Evidence of genre conventions in Ferris Bueller's Day Off

In Ferris Bueller's Day Off there are a number of the drama genre conventions within the film. There is a wide use of the codes within the film. One of the main things is the use of a teenager growing up, as seen within the theme of 'Coming-of-Age'. There is also the use of regular, normal locations, such as the scene where the main three characters are in a museum:

Some Drama films with this ongoing theme within them use voice overs, or have scenes were the main character talks directly to the audience, facing the camera. This is another way of helping the audience relate to the character, and is often used by Directors in order to make the audience engage with the character and accpet them for who they are, when other characters may not. It's a very effective technique, and Ferris Bueller's Day Off also includes these. Ferris often updates the audience with his thoughts, so they constantly know what he is planning. The scenes where he talks to the audience enable the audience to hear and see the changes which this one day has made to Ferris, and also show that he's not always the joker that everybody thinks he is.

 

 

Ferris Bueller also has an unpopular character. Ferris's best friend Cameron is somewhat unpopular and is different to the other students at their school. This is another feature of this theme, as the audience also see how that particular character has changed throughtout the film, mostly due to the actions of the main character. In this scene from Ferris, Cameron explains how he is fed up of the way he is constantly treated by his father, and he tells Ferris that he has learned to take a stand and challenge his father, and tell him what he thinks of him. He explains that Ferris has helped him accept and realise that something need to be done, and this has all been done in one single day. This scene is similar to many other films like this, as it directly tells the audience through another character how the protagonist has developed and changed, but also how the protagonist has helped another character grow and 'come-of-age' themselves.



 

 

Images of the Drama genre

Including films with the 'Coming-of-Age' theme

 

In the poster for this film, there are 4 young characters, all male. The title suggests that they stcik by each other no matter what happens between them; something which only one of the characters in my film does.

Nature-They are in a quiet area where no body else is. This suggests that they have their freedom to do this and that they soend their time together in a place where no one else goes to. 
This image clearly shows their bonding. They all have bagpacks which shows thatthey are all going on this journey together as a team.

They are walking on a train track which is dangerous-no body should be there, that's why they are there all alone. This leads the audience to want to know why they have ended up there.

 

Stand By Me (1986) Director: Rob Reiner

The word 'club' within the title suggests that they are together, as a team. The characters are all wearing clothing and fashions of that time, something which teenagers tend to do in these type of films.

The use of the colour green could symbolise jealousy or envy, which could make the audience think that somewhere along the line there will be a twist within the story line.

 

 

The character in the red could be seen as the reballious character. This is due to the fact that he is wearing a red top-connoting danger; or perhaps it could suggest love and a possible roomance between him and another character. He seems to dominate because of the colour of his shirt, and it seems to draw your attention over to him.

Another way that their rebelliousness is shown is through the wau that they are sat on the tables, instead of being seated on the chairs provided for them. They have chosen to disobey the rules, and this tells the audience that they are going to be doing more thngs that they shouldn't.

 

The Breakfast Club (1985) Director: John Hughes

 

'Leisure Rules'-This is effective as it is saying that his parents do not rule him-leisure does. He is obviously a character that will not listen to what other people tell him to do.

The close up of his face is effective because it allows the audience to see a close-up of his smile, which tells the audience that he is up to no good; he is disobeying the rules and he is enjoying it.

 

The red font used on this poster stands out as it is bright and eye catching, but also because it is in red. The use of the color red shows how rebellious he is, and also connotes danger-a hint towards Ferris's danger of being caught skipping school and pretending to be ill.

The clothing is of that time and makes the film much more realistic.

Ferris seems really relaxed, another way of showing that he is different to other teenagers-he likes to take his time to do stuff, where as others tend to rush around and have lots of things going on at the same time.

 

This is an image of where Ferris talks to the audience. He is facing the camera, so that it seems as though he is directing his speech directly to you as a spectator.

The writing is effective, due to the fact that it gives the audience the chance to see what is going on in his mind, and it is also the sort of thing a rebellious teenager would actually do.

The furniture placed in his room is typical of  the furniture a teenager has, and the guitar shos that he has a talent. This tells the audience more about the character, giving him more of a background.

 

Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986) Director: John Hughes

In this poster, you can tell that the characters are both young. They seems quite free and it looks as though they have an easy life, something which draws the audience in to wanting to see the film.

The characters are obviously rebellious, due to the fact that they are girls and they are wearing football shirts. It is clear from the picture that they both enjoy football, and the title confirms that they are interested in it and play it.

The sky is very effective in the poster because it is almost as though they are touching the sky in order to reach their goals-That's how hard they are working on achieveing their goals.

 

The field used not only shows a wide space for their football games, it connotes their freedom to do what they like.

 Bend It Like Beckham (2002) Director: Gurinder Chadha

 

 

 

 

 

17 Again: Health class

This clip is related to my idea for the short film. At 1:37, the main character Mike (as a 17 year old), begins to explain in his health class that he believes a person should wait for the right moment, when they are in love to have sexual intercourse. His speech is relevant to my film, as the main character in mine becomes pregnant. In this clip, Mike talks about taking the love between a relationship, and making it into a baby:
'It's that first moment when you hold you baby girl, and you didn't know that anything could be so small and so delicate, and you feel that tiny heartbeat and you know that you couldn't love anything more in the whole world, and you hope that you can do right by that little girl...' etc.
This shows the relationship between a parent and a child, and it links to change the audience will see in the main character in my film, once her child is born.